Massive explosion rocks Ohio building as windows shatter and debris fly across street: Video

Seven people were injured and two went missing after a gas explosion took place in downtown Youngstown, Ohio on Tuesday (May 28), said officials.

The blast took place on the first floor of a 13-storey building on E Federal Street which has the office of Chase Bank at around 2:45 pm local time,reported WFMJ.

The explosion took place near Central Square on Tuesday afternoon (May 28) as people were appealed by the police to avoid the area.

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According to Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley, the blast was a natural gas explosion and added that the crews were determined to find if there was a gas leak.

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"All I know for sure is that there was an explosion," said Finley, while speaking to reporters in a press conference.

On Tuesday (May 28), Mercy Health said that they are treating seven people who suffered injuries in the blast, which included one person who was in critical condition.

After searching the building, a man and woman remained missing, said Finley. The fire chief said that the man was an employee of the bank.

After the blast, the floor collapsed in the basement which was flooded and search crews tried to send a mini-drone into the basement to help in the search effort, Finley said.

“The floor collapsed in on itself, there’s nothing to see, it’s full of water, so honestly, we don’t know if that person is down there or not. When we get clearance to go into the building… until then, I will not put any of my firefighters down there to do a search for any reason right now,” he added.

Dramatic video emerges of the incident

Dramatic footage of the explosion was recorded in a security camera in which windows were seen shattering and debris flying across the street after the violent blast.

The city block was engulfed in a cloud of thick smoke. The residents of the area reported hearing a deafening boom after the smell of gas.

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“I heard the boom, and I looked up and I could see dark smoke coming out of the side of the Chase Bank building… but it was such a really strong, strong boom, you know, I blurted out, ‘Oh my God,’” said Debora Flora, who is an executive director of Mahoning CountyLand Bankwhile speaking to WKBN.

Meanwhile, a resident Justin Reynolds said, “When I got to the lobby, there was kind of like a metal gate door that had been bowed in and the rubble from the lobby… the broken-up rock and marble had jammed itself so I was there with my cat in a carrier kind of trying to push the door open."

(With inputs from agencies)